Draw-bar.



T. P. OTTERSON.

DRAW BAR.

APPLlcATIoN FILED AUG.H.1917.

miente@ Feb. 5, N155 ELE-E W v1 ewes Y therein the improved device is FUFEN THOMAS PARKER OTTERSON, F KHE-BS, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO PRESLEY ROBIN-S ALLEN, 0F BCAIIESTER, OKLAHOMA.

DRAW-BAR.

Application tiled August 11, 1917.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, THOMAS PARKER OT- rnnsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Krebs, in the county of Pittsburg and State of Gklahoma, have invented new and useful Improvements in Draw-Bars, of which the following` is a specification.

This invention relates to draw bars for coupling cars and particularly mine cars.

In the present couplingsfor mine cars, links, pins, hooks and other devices are used, but all are more or less unsatisfactory as they will not stay coupled or connected in view of the irregularity in level and lineal disposition of mine seams. Mine seams will run level for a certain limited distance and then pitch heavily to another level and thus continue to vary throughout the entire seam extent and alsoswerve or turn at various angles, and, as a consequence, great ditliculty is encountered in maintaining mine cars in practical coupled relation in following a seam, and when they break loose numerous accidents and injury to operatives result.

The main object of the present improved draw or coupling bar is to provide a device that is simple in construction and operation and eective in maintaining mine cars in coupled condition irrespective of grade variations or lateral deflections in the travel of mine cars.

l/Vith this and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully hereinafter de scribed and claimed.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a plan view of a mine car with the improved draw bar secured therein.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the car and bar.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the draw or coupling bar.

Figs. 4t, 5 and 6 are detail perspective views of one extremit7 of the bar, the safety locking latch, and the latch or keeper pin.

1ig. is a perspective view of a double form of the improved bar. j

The letter A designates a mine car of usual form and construction, and centrally mounted and consists of a flat bar 5 of suitable length and thickness, and having at one end a coupling hook or head 6, as shown by Figs. 1, 3 and Specification of Letters Patent.

`with a throat 13 thereof and in alinement Patented Feb. 5, tm Serial No. 185,772.

a, or similar hooks or heads 6 and 7, as shown by Fig. 7. Each hook or head has a throat 8 opening` outwardly through one side at a slight inward angle, or, the throats of the bar, as shown by Fig. 7, open reversely through the bar sides. 0n one side of the bar 5 is a safety latch or latches 9 and 10 and each has its inner extremity pivoted to the bar, as at 11, the outer end of each latch being in the form of a hook 12 opening through thc side thereof at a rearward angle. The throat 13 of each latch opens through the side tliereof opposite or reverse to the throat 8 of the adjacent coupling hook or head of the bai' 5 with which it coacts, and, hence, when each latch is closed and locked the throat 8 of either of the hooks or heads 6 and 'Z' is positively closed thereby. The hook 12 of each latch is of contour as the head of the bar 5 and when said latch head 12 is closed relatively to the ar head the edges of the two heads coincide. Each latch has an opening 14 therein in longitudinal alinement with its pivot 11, and in said opening 14 a locking pin 15 is loosely mounted and provided with a loop or eye head 16. The bar 5 also has an opening 1?' therein at one or both extremities adjacent to but in rear of each head with the pivot ll of each latch. YVhen each latch is closed over its bar head, the opening 14 of the latch registers with the adjacent opening 17 and the pin l5 drops into said latter opening, thereby lockingI the latch against movement and preventing accidental disengagement of the coupling means from the bar head and latch. iVheii release of the coupling means from the bar head and adjacent locking latch is desired, it is only necessary to raise the pin to clear the opening 17 and the latch may then be turned on its pivot 11 to clear the bar head and throat 8 when the link or coupling means may be readily withdrawn. Links 18 are illustrated as the coupling means to coact with the improved draw or coupling bar, said links being suitably attached to adjacent draw bars in coupling the mine cars. Any other form of coupling` means may be used, and the improved draw bar may he applied to any other car or vehicle.

The bar 5 is of such width and the pin l5 1s carried in such position in connection the same dimensions and with each safety latch that when the pin is raised or pulled up to release the latch it vvillremain in such raised position for automatic operation onlocking actionV or'be ready to drop in the opening 17 latch is closed, and registration of the openingsfl and 17 ensues. The inwardangu-Y lar"deflections of the throats 8 and 13'of the bar head and latch conjointly'actto draiv the coupling means into the centers or eyes ofthe head and latch and also 1olostructfthe' accidental. release of said coupling means when fthenlatch i is locked i closed.

Theimproved drawl or couplingbar: is cheap'in the cost oit" manufacture andlmay hefl easily 'applied in operative position` to effectively' perform its functions; 1f the pins lailt'o Work or lock in the openings 17, the` coupling. devices or. links would still lo'eheldv 'n.the har head andllatch by reason ofi the particular. mounting of saidi latch' as explained, and in .view of this structural'advantage of the improvedbar, its reliability and 'eniciency as va l draw and coupling 'means are materially increased;

W-hatis claimed isz-- 1; A ldevice for the purposerspecied, consisting. offabar having-a hoolred'end head with .a throat opening throughthe side edge thereof at .anangletoward the rear-v end'o thebar and also provided'with ant-opening in .rear of said .'throat, `a safety. latch pivot-V ally, mounted.- and movable on the bar and havingga hooked head correspondingI to the bar head andtormed With-a similarthroat opening` throughi the.. one ,sideA edge thereof and reversely to 'the' throat of the bar head,y and a. pin* looselyl mountedA and verticallyT When. the` Vmovable in the latch to engage the Said opening in rear of the bar head throat to lock' the latch against movement.

2. A deviceor the "purpose specified, consisting of a bar having one or more hooked end heads and one or more pivoted latches thereoin-With reversely arranged side opening throats each latch carrying a loose ver# tica-llyf.l movablelpin to automatically engage the bar and lock the latch closed.

3. A device for `thejpurpose' specified,` con-1V sistingrof fa bar: having`- one orf more hooked end headsfandfone orxmoreV plvoted latches thereon; each head-1and-latchhaving freverse' laterally opening` inwardly. inclined throats and each latehcarrying a loose Vvertically movable. pin to' automatically engage the bar and .lock the =latch closed.

LA mine car` having al draw` loarcen trally and'. longitudinally disposed. therein and providedwvith a couplinglieadhaving a-laterally. opening inwardlyinclined throat, av saetyf latch.. pivotcduponv and movable over saiddoarhead andl`v also having afhool head 1 Withi a laterally opening inwardly inclinedihroat reversely extending relatively tolthebari headI throat, and af keeper pin loosely` carried `Vby and v vertically movable in the.- Safety` latch to automatically engage the4 bar. 'ancl.1lojck. theflatch-L againstmovement.

In. testimony. whereof I" have "hereunto set my hand impresence:o-.tivo subscribing Wit- DESSQSv` Y i THOMAS- PARKER oTTERsoN.

Witnesses.:

RENNERJONES; ANNrEcnvMcUssa;

Copies oI-.thisipatent may be obtainedlorive cents each, blnaddressing..thefGummissicmez'.of` Patents;

Washington,l .01. 

